Natasha MacLellan and Christian Murray star in “Lauchie, Liza and Rory,” a play by Cape Breton’s Sheldon Currie, which is being staged at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Mulgrave Road Theatre, in association with Frankie Productions, is presenting “Lauchie, Liza and Rory” at the National Arts Centre as part of the centre’s English Theatre Series.

It opened earlier this week and runs until April 16.

Written by Cape Breton author Sheldon Currie, this staging of “Lauchie, Liza and Rory” is being directed by Mary Colin-Chisholm and stars Natasha MacLellan, a native of Southwest Margaree, and Christian Murray. There’s also a live musical score provided by fiddler Mairi Rankin, of Mabou.

“Lauchie, Liza, and Rory” premiered in 2003 at Mulgrave Road Theatre, toured Nova Scotia and enjoyed a run at Eastern Front’s SuperNova Theatre Festival. The production has also been presented in New Zealand, Edmonton, Whitehorse, Calgary, Toronto’s Summerworks Festival, and at the Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton.

“Lauchie, Liza and Rory” received the 2004 Robert Merritt Award for best new play.

The play tells the story of coal miner Lauchie MacDonald, who lives a humdrum existence until his world is turned upside down when Liza dances into his life. Their courtship is sealed with a big win at bingo, until Lauchie’s daredevil twin brother, Rory, bursts back onto the scene. A spinster, a priest, a reformed party girl, and a cantankerous Cape Breton matriarch, are all witnesses to a 20-year, interrupted, love story.

“Lauchie, Liza and Rory” is described as a heartwarming comedic tale of misguided loyalty and unspoken emotion.

For more on the National Arts Centre and their events schedule go to www.nac-cna.ca.